Academy

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte spoke before the important EFL Cup derby against Southampton, first of all he was asked about players’ fitness:

“Terry is fit to start, he’s in a good shape, tomorrow I will decide the starting line up, but John is fit, he trained very well and he is ready.

“We know that this surely a tough game, against a big rival like West Ham, we played them in the league and I remember it was a tough game, all the players are ready to play a good game, I hope to see a good atmosphere, in England the atmosphere is fantastic during the games

“Ivanovic is better, he trained with squad yesterday and today, he needs a bit of time to be fit, Fabregas is not still well, we must wait because he had a muscular problem, we must patient because it was in his thigh, I hope to see him in the team.

“I’m pleased Zouma played yesterday, he’s a young player and he’s really good, I hope to see him really soon, I hope he will start to work with us, I am very happy he played with the U23, he had good answer after the game yesterday and we were pleased for this.”

The manager continued to analyse tomorrow’s game:

“For us the EFL Cup is an important competition, this cup can let you see some players that are working very well and normally don’t start, you can see the development of these players, in this season we just have this cup and Fa Cup to see other players, so tomorrow probably we will see some changes.”

Asked about what happened with Mourinho at the final whistle on the touchline he said:

“I think in this moment is not important to talk again about a game that for me, the players and the club is the past, Manchester United is the past, now it’s important to be very focused on tomorrow’s game, I think we played a good game, with a good intensity, now it’s important to continue. We have to build something important for the present and for the future

“I think that everyone must show respect for me, for my work, I think that in every game I show myself, I have a history, and you can see it also in my past, this was my behavior on the touchline, I am a passionate man, I want to play with the players and help them, but I always show respect for other teams and clubs, and my history speaks for me.”

Conte spoke also about Chelsea youngsters and possible turnover:

“I think new players are coming up, it’s important for the coach to have players with different carachteriscs, we played with different systems this seasons, after two bad defeats against Liverpool and Arsenal I decided to change because the situation wasn’t good for us, for this reason we play with this system, the important thing is to understand the right principles, to play the ball quick, to stay compact, short, then the system is not important.

“Yesterday it was not easy to shout because I lost my voice, but now I am recovering.

“Willian is recovering, he’s in a good moment now, he’s a very good man, we love him, the players and I, and he is ready to play.

“Bathsuayi is a young player, he can do great improvement, he’s working very well, he started two games with us, I have full confidence in him and I am sure that if Michy will play, he will play a good game

“When you are in a great team and you have the chance to work with great players you can learn a lot, he’s a got a great potential, both physically and technically

“Tammy Abraham, is another young player that has got a future in Chelsea, I saw him only one week in the USA in the pre-season, then we decided to loan him to play more, he’s a got great potential, the academy is working very well. Now it’s early to speak about the next season. We got many young players in the squad, academy players like Chalobah, Ola Aina, Solanke and Ruben Loftus-Cheek.”

ChelseaNews24 asked Conte how many of these players can play tomorrow night:

“Tomorrow we want to win, this message is important, if I will plays some youngsters is not to give them a gift but because I really trust them

“West Ham had some difficulties at the start of this championship but now, after two wins the confidence is high, if I see their squad I see they got very good players, I know some of them very well like Zaza and Ogbonna, I know their manager how he works, I got a lot of respect for them I remember a tough game when we played in the PL.”

Chelsea have made contact with Arsenal legend MarcOvermars to bring him to StamfordBridge for a role in the academy.

Overmars is currently the director of football at Ajax but Sport, a source close with Overmars‘ former club Barcelona, claim that the 43-year-old is ready to leave Holland and is considering a move back to London to assist behind the scenes with Chelsea.

Overmars has made a name for himself in Holland, bringing youngsters through the ranks at a good level and Chelsea bosses are looking to link him with technical director MichaelEmenalo.

We know that Chelsea interim manager Guus Hiddink love to give space to youngsters and he always stated that he will be an external advisor for the club in the next season to help them to develop some of the many talents that the Blues got in their academy.

Today the Dutch coach was asked if he was keen to let some of them debut against Leicester this Sunday, after Tammy Abraham played his first game with the first team against Liverpool on Wednesday night, but he was cautious, stating the debut must be deserved:

“Youngsters must deserve the debut, it’s a huge step from the academy to the first team, they have to make a step, like Bertrand Traore did in the last months, he’s got a great mentality, he’s not afraid to come in, the other ones have to make the step as well.”

ChelseaNews24 asked to Hiddink which YOUNGSTERS he would advice to keep to develop with the FIRST TEAM and which ones to go on LOAN, he replied to us:

“I guess to make names is not fair because then you put pressure on them, but I guess that at the beginning of the season the new staff will select many of them to do the pre-season, and there you can see after a couple of weeks who deserves to stay and who have to go.

“When academy players train with the first team, then they start to knock on the door, they must the experience to train as much as possible with the first team, and then it’s natural.”

JOHN TERRY- “Of course I spoke to the club about John’s situation, players and ex players are having a lot of influence in the culture of the club, I’m in favor of that, it’g good to have players in the club with big personality.

“I don’t if we can know more before this weekend match, but usually when things are clear, then they come out, the club will do it official as soon as it’s clear

“He’s been already 20-21 years in this club, it’s a huge period, you must cherish those legends for the future as well.”

DIEGO COSTA/ COURTOIS injured - “He will be out, hamstring, Courtois – that was ill for Anfield game- was again on the pitch, he was training, and I think he will be ok for the weekend

QUIQUE SANCHEZ FLORES – I was a little surprised [he was sacked by Watford] I worked a lot with him in Valencia and Madrid, when he was my player he was 23-24, he’s a good guy, a good professional, I don’t know why they took this decision

FRANK DE BOER - “I have known Frank for many years, he was my player in the national team at France 98, in the world cup in France, I like the job Philip Cocu did in PSV, they are champions, they started with youngsters, Cocu is similar to him, and I think they both have the ambition to step up to La Liga or Premier League

EURO 2016 - “A favourite? I don’t usually do predictions, but I might be a supporter of Belgium team now, I have also some English guys, so it’s difficult to pick, but I think Belgium might be a very good favorite.2

DIEGO COSTA INJURED/ EURO - “I think he can be available, he will have a good rest, but with a good traiming he can make it, I am not sure.

HIS FAREWELL ON SUNDAY - “It’s not a definitive farewell, but I will be back- as I said many times before- to help the club and advince them in the development of young players, so it’s not so dramatic.

HIS SECOND SPELL AT CHELSEA - “When they asked me, to be honest, I don’t know if say YES or NO, then I was very pleased to do it, and I am pleased of what I have done. The escape from relegation zone was good, I would have loved to go into the FA cup final, I would have loved to go at least two more rounds on in the UCL.”

DISAPPOINTING SEASON - “We must face the fact that for Chelsea standards this has been a season with disappointment, but we have to go on and be competitive in the next season.

“We were happy with the reaction when we were close to the relegation zone, then when we were mid table we had to set new targets, the Chelsea standard we put to it’s not achieved and we have to be critical of that.”

LEICESTER – “They were reacting very well, they didn’t implode, they could cope with the pressure and they deserved.”

NEXT PL SEASON - “There can be surprises, they can sign good players, there are no more 4-5 teams that compete every year for the title, and I think is good for football.”

YOUNGSTERS’ DEBUT – “Youngsters must deserve the debut, it’s a huge step from the academy to the first team, they have to make a step, like Traore did in the last months, he’s got a great mentality, he’s not afraid to come in, the other ones have to make the step as well

ChelseaNews24 asked to Hiddink which YOUNGSTERS he would advice to keep to develop with the FIRST TEAM and which ones to go on LOAN, he replied to us:

“I guess to make names is not fair because then you put pressure on them, but I guess that at the beginning of the season the new staff will select many of them to do the pre-season, and there you can see after a couople of weeks who deserves to stay and who have to go.

ACADEMY PLAYERS - When academy players train with the first team, then they start to knock on the door, they must the experience to train as much as possible with the first team, and then it’s natural

MIKEL DEFENDER - “Once we were out of the relegation zone we had to deal with injuries in the defense, so we had to reshuffle Mikel had a good half season, so he had to play as a defender, he wasn’t in favorite position, but he showed he could that as well.”

INJURIES – Ivanovic was on the pitch, but not fully fit, we have to see tomorrow